Stop-motion for knitting-machines.



N0. 764E338. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904. A. BLANGHARD 6; E. H. GATES. ETOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DOT. 13, 1903.

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N0 MODEL.

No. 764,338. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

A. 'BLANOHARD & F. H. GATES. STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T.13, 1903,

NO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 764,338. PAQTENTED JULY 5, 1904.

A. BLANOHARD 6: F. H. GATES.

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED 0011a, 1903. no MODEL. 3 SHBETS-SHBET a.

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Patented July 5, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. p

ALFRED BLANCHARlIAND FRANK GATESJOF WARE. MASSACHUSETJTS.

STOP-MOTION FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,338, dated July 5, 1904. Application filed October 13, 1903. Serial No. 176,879. (No model.)

To all whom it nury concern.-

Be it known that we, ALFRED BLANCIIARD, of No. 11 Main street, and FRANK H. GATES.

of No. Park street, Ware. in the county of lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the aecoinpaiieation, and in which" p Figure 1 represents atop or plan View of so much of a knitting-machine as is necessary to illustrate our improvements. Figs. 2 and 3 are side views thereof looking in the direcnving drawings, forming a part of this speci- I space inclosed by the goods being knitted,

tions of arrows a and b, respectively. Fig. 4: y

is an inner end view looking in the direction of arrow 0, Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a plan of my improved stop-motion device hereinafter described,

Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 being upon the same enlarged scale. parts shown in Fig. 5 looking in the direction of arrow (Z in said Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the Fig. 7 is a plan view of the outer half of Fig. 5 Wlth our IIIVGDEIOD ap pertains to better understand some of the parts removed to more fully illustrate the parts coming under the same. Fig. 8 is an end view of the stop-motion device looking in the direction of arrow 0, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 1s a bottom View of a rotatable disk used on said device and some of the operating mechanr.

ism connected therewith. Fig. 10 represents a portion of a notchedspring-spindle and its latch, constituting a part of the brake-lever mechanism with which my improved stop-,

motion mechanism connects, as hereinafter described, part of the knitting mechanism; also being shown in said figure. Fig. 11 repi resents, upon an enlarged scale, Part of said spring-spindle, showing, the notch formed usual connections, and Fig. 13 is an enlarged front view t seineof the brake-operating mechanisifti l ing the direction of arrow Our-invention relates more i i Vi having a horizontalring for supporting said goods and a stop-motioirdevice adapted tobear upon the inner surface of thegoods, preferably on a. level with the needles, and having a finger which springs forward an catches in any o iiening or obstruction in the goods being knittedv or any opening or (le pression caused by broken needles, said linger catching against the fabric causing the ship.- per and brake-lever of the machine to be 0perated to stop the knitting portion of said machine, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to which the nature and purpose thereof; we will now proceed to describe it more in detail with reference tovthe acedmpanying drawings.

In said'drawingsfri represents portions of the frame of the machine. B is the stationary head attached thereto;C, the stationary n eedlecylinder; C, the rotary cam-ring connected with the central vertical shaft 1), which in ,anism for keeping the fabric taut as it is being knitted, and the bevel-gear with the mechanism for imparting rotary motion to the cam-ring. Said feed and cam-ring operating particularly to l mechanism constitute no part of our invention,

and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to illustrate or describe the same to make clear the nature and purpose of our 1rnprovements.

Said improvements, as before stated, relate solely to the mechanism for operating the usual shipper and brake for applying and disconnecting the driving power to or from shaft D and the needle-cylinder or cam-ring, according to which is made stationary or rotatable on the machine, the needle-cylinder being operated when the fabric revolves with the needles and the cam-ring when said needlecylinder and the needles are held stationary from rotary motion. In this instance, as'will be understood, the drawings represent a machine in whichthe cam-ring is rotated and in which the needle-cylinder and fabric do not revolve; but since our invention is equally applicable to a machine in which the cam-ring is stationary and in which the needle-cylinder and fabric rotate we do not limit ourselves thereto. In either case our improvements are practically the same in construction and effect the same result in practice-viz, of automatically operating the shipper and applying the brake whenever a defect in the fabric or needles occurs, as previously stated. The description will be confined to the construction shown of a machine having arotary cam-ring and a stationary needle-cylinder and in which the fabric ,does not revolve, the same having only a downward feed motion.

The brake L is located under pulley K and is adapted to engage therewith. It is connected with a hub M, pivoted at N to frame A, and to which hub is eccentrically pivoted the hub O of horizontal transverse lever 0 near the center of said lever. Lever O is provided with handles 0 0 one at each end, whereby it may be operated by hand, and is also connected with mechanism for operating it automatically. lever is provided with-a lateral hook or projection 0 (see Fig. 13,) which catches over the end of a spring-spindle'O arranged in a stationary bearing 0. Within said bearing is also arranged another spring-spindle O Said two spring-spindles are each provided with a cam-hub 0 0 which engage and are so constructed that when the spring-spindle O is turned in one direction the spring-spindle 0 will be moved longitudinally in the direction from lever O, and vice versa when turned in the opposite direction. Said camhubs O O are of ordinary construction, well known to the art, and as we make no special claim thereto it will be unnecessary to show or describe the same in detail.

A constant downward force is imparted to the end 0 of lever O by a spring 0, and said spring-power in practice forces the brake L through the various connecting parts against the periphery of pulley J when said end 0 is released from the end of spring-spindle 0 The lever is forced up into engagement. with The handle end 0 of said said spring-spindle by hand to bring the projection 0* over the end of the spindle, as is shown in Fig; 13, and when thus held the brake is out of engagement with the pulley K, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and is released automatically therefrom tobring said 'brake in engagement with said pulley. Said automatic release of the lever is ordinarily performed as follows: Avertical spring-spindle P is fitted to slide longitudinally in a vertical guide-opening in the stationary head B, and said spindle is provided near the top with a side cam-notch P, (see Figs. 10 and 11,) with which is adapted to engage a latch P pivoted to the top of bed B, for holding said spindle in its elevated position until released, said release being usually performed by a notch on the cam-ring or needle-cylinder (according to which is arranged to turn on the machine) coining in contact with and forcing said latch out of engagement with the notch in the spindle, so as to permit its spring P to force down the spindle longitudinally. This happens when a defect in the fabric occurs or when one or moreof the needles break. Such an occurrence causes the spindle P to be relever through the connections previously described. Upon its release said brake-lever is drawn down by its spring, and consequently forces the brake into contact with pulley K, i which quickly stops the rotary motion of the parts after the power is removed by the operation of the usual shipper.

The operation of releasing the vertical spring-spindle P not only causes the brake'to be applied to pulley K, but also causes the shipper I to be operated to unship the power from the machine by the lower end of said spindle striking the end Q of horizontal lever Q and forcing its opposite end Q out of engagement with a notch in the horizontal spindle Q so as to permit a spring Qf, arranged over the same and engaging with the shipper, to force said shipper to one side, and thereby ship the driving-belt from the tight pulley onto the loose pulley of the machine, in practice the parts being so adjusted that the power is first unshipped and then immediately following the brake applied to stop the rotation of the parts, as in other machines where mechanical power is employed.

Up tothe present point in the description the construction is old, except in combination with our improvements, which are as follows: The only change we make in said old parts is to secure a horizontal projection or pin R to the stationary vertical rotatable spring-spindle P, in this instance it being connected with the collar or foot P*, secured to the lower end thereof. An angle-plate S, pivoted at S (see in the operation of the machine, as herein- 1 after described. Said bar T is fitted to slide longitudinally-in a frame U, (see Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive,) secured to vertical shaft D and which supports, in addition to said bar, the

othcr operating parts for automatically setting the shipper and brake mechanism in operation, as subsequently described in detail.

A constant outward pressure is imparted to I force saidslide-bar T outward when released,

as hereinafter described, by means of a suitable spring T shaft D, as above stated, is carried around with said shaft inside of the fabric V being knitted, and a horizontal disk W, fitted to turn on a suitable bearing U on said frame U, is

arranged to travel around'in contact with said fabric during the knitting operation. It cong, mounted on the aforesaid disk W, which is adapted to be sprung out radiallyfrom said disk when any hole, depression, or other defective obstruction occurs in the fabric or neei dles, which will permit said hook to be sprung forward and catch therein. I A horizontal slotted swivel-link h, arranged i above the slide-bar T, is pivoted at h toa fixed bearing.

is moved longitudinally. It ismoved outward stated, and .inward by pressing upon its outer curved end T by hand,

at f to a fixed bearing.

of another horizontal lever, k, pivoted at in to a fixed bearing. Said inner end of lever is providedwith a shoulder 76 and with a cam edge In", with-which the notched hub l of lever -Z is. adapted to engage, the shoulder Z of said hub Z being adapted to bear against the shoulder k of lever is when the parts are locked 5 with the slide-bar T forced in toward shaft,

D, as is shown by full-lines'in Fig. 5.

the slide-bar isthus forced inward, by said lever lying. between a fixed pin m in disk W.

Frame U being secured to l The slot in said link extends nearly 1 its whole length, and in said slot a fixed stud e' on the slide-bar fits, (see Fig.7,) which serves to swing said link on its pivot when the bar and the end 9 of an arm extending inward from a slide g, to the outer end of which is secured the hook 9, previously referred to. Said slide is fitted to move radially in a suitable guide-slot g in disk \Niand is provided with a suitable spring 9 for exerting a constant outward pressure thereon, so that the hook gwill be sprung out instantly and automatically when any opening or depression comes in line therewith in the fabric, as previously stated, during the knitting operation.

The slotted link it and levers j, 1" and Zare each provided withsuitable springs for forcing them into their normal positions when the lateral pressure thereon is released.

By the foregoing construction and arrangement of the parts mounted on the rotating frame U it is obvious that so long as the knitting process goes on properly and there is no break in the fabric or needles or other defect that will permit the slide g and itshook g to spring forward said locking device mounted on frame U will continue to be rotated by shaft D, with the periphery of disk W audits hook in contact with the inner surface of the fabric, said disk being held from turning, so as to always keep said hook in proper position to catch in'any hole or depression in the fabric or in the line of needles. To facilitate the hook g slipping freely along the surface and prevent its catching when no obstruction occurs therein, the end is curved, as is shown in Figs. 5 and 9, so that it will slip along smoothly over said surface. Thedisk W is held locked when the machine is running properly byv the army bearing against the leverl and holding said lever between said arm and the fixed pin m, in

which position a shoulder on hub Z engages shoulder it on lever k, as previously described.

After the machine has been automatically .break by simply pushing inward. by hand 011 the curved end of slide-bar T, said .operation causing all the operatingparts to be moved The outer free end of-slotted link it is provided with an I upward-extending stud k which isadapted to engage with a notch j inthe outer end of a horizontal lever j, pivoted The inner free end of said lever j engages with the inner free end back into their locked positions, as is shown in Figsa5, 6, 8, and 9. Fig. 7, in which the disk W is left off, shows the parts under said disk in the positionsthatthey occupy after they are released and sprung forward.

The spring for operating the slide 9 is in practice made just sufficient in strength to said frame U. below said oil-pan for holding the fabric expanded in PIO'DGI'POSlElOIl, as is shown in Figs. 2 and? Said wire frame is mounted on a loose sleeveY, fitted. to. slide freely on a vertical spindle Y extending down in alinement With and from the center of shaft D, and provided with a suitable collar Y at the bottom to prevent the frame from slipping off of said spindle when the fabric is removed.

During the knitting operation the pressure of the fabric holds said wire frame from slipping down, owing to the inward inclination of the lines of the fabric, as is also shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It is obvious that the details of construction of our improved automatic stop mechanism may require varying in practice to meet different circumstances, and we therefore reserve the right to make such modifications therein as may be advisable coming within the scope of our invention.

Our stop mechanism may be applied either to a knitting-machine having a stationary camring and a rotary needle-cylinder wherein the fabric revolves with the needle-cylinder or to a knitting-machine having a rotary cam-ring and a stationary needle-cylinder, the fabric in that case having no rotary motion.

As previously stated, we are aware that it is not broadly new to apply a stop-motion mechanism to a knitting-machine for the purpose described, the same having been done in various ways to be operated by hand and automatically by a break in the thread or yarn between the spools and fabric being knitted; but we are not aware that said mechanism has heretofore been operated by a device arranged within the space inclosed by the fabric being knitted and set in operation automatically by contact therewith when any defect occurs thereinas, for instance, when the needles break and permit the fabric to. be forced outward by the finger 9 into the depression thus formed or when any opening in the fabric occurs from defective knitting into which said finger may enter and catch, and thus cause the operation of the stop mechanism to unship the power and stop the machine, as hereinafter described. This feature we believe to be wholly new in a machine of this class. By thus controlling the operation of the machine by the condition of the, needles and fabric while knitting, whereby said machine is stopped instantly the moment any defect in said fabric comes in line with the hook or projection g of the stop-motion device previously described,a large saving is effected in the knitting operation. both in time and in the fabric being knitted and also in labor. Sincebut little attention is required from the attendant or operative in running a machine equipped with our improvement, we effect a large saving in the fabric and labor, and consequently in the total net cost of production.

, Having now described said invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a knitting machine, the supportingframe, the shipper and brake, means for connecting said shipper and brake with springspindle P, means for detachably supporting said spring-spindle, and said spring-spindle, having a lateral projection, in combination with angle-plate S, pivoted to a stationary bearing, and adapted to engage at one end with said lateral projection on the springspindle, and at its opposite end with the outer end of a slide-bar T, fitted to slide longitudinally in frame U; said frame U, secured to vertical rotary shaft D; said shaft D; slidebar T, provided with the stud 7 its spring T slotted spring+ link it, arranged above pivoted slide-bar T, andprovided with the stud k spring-lever j, pivoted at and provided with the notch j; spring-lever k, pivoted at is and provided with the shoulder I0 and cam edge I0 spring-lever Z, to disk W, and provided with a shoulder or projection Z on its hub adapted to engage with shoulder k holding-pin m, against which lever Z is adapted to bear; slide 9, fitted in a slot in disk W; arm g extending back therefrom and engaging with lever Z, spring 9 for forcing slide g outward; hook g, formed upon, or secured to the outer end of slide and the aforesaid disk W, adapted in connection with its hook g to bear upon the inner surface of the fabric being knitted, substantially as and for the'purpose set forth.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the usual spring-spindle P having a lateral projection, of the pivoted angle-plate S adapted to engage atone end therewith, and at its outer end with the outer end of a slide-bar T; said slide-bar, fitted in a frame U secured to shaft D; means for forcing said slide-bar outward; disk W, pivoted to frame U; its slide 9, fitted in a slot'formed therein and provided with means. for forcing it outward, and means operatively' connecting the slide-bar '.T with said slide g, for locking the various parts when the slide-bar is. forced in by hand, and Which may be unlocked automatically by turning the disk W, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

. 3. In a knitting-machine, a stop-motion device arranged within the space inclosed by the fabric being knitted, connected with shaft D so asto turn therewith, and whose outer end bears against the inner surface of said fabric in the operation of knitting, said device comprising the frame U, secured to shaft D; slide-bar T, fitted therein -and having means for forcing it outward, and also adapted to engage with a pivoted lever in turn arranged to engage with the usual springspindle P; disk W, mounted and fitted to turn on the outer end of frame U; its slide g, provided with hook g; means for forcing said slide outward, and means for connecting said slide 9 with slide-bar T, consisting of pivoted, spring-link it, its connection with slide-bar T; pivoted spring-levers j, is and Z, and means for holding said lever L, while the device is traveling around inside of the fabric in contact therewith, during the proper knitting thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the usual spring-spindle P, having alateral projection, the fabric V and shaft D, with the circular wire frame Y arranged to slide on a central, vertical spindle Y", extending down from shaft D, and adaptedto bear upon the inner surface of the fabric, to hold it expanded; frame U secured to said shaft D; slide-bar T fitted therein, and having means for forcing it outward, and also adapted to engage with a pivoted lever S, in turn arranged to engage with the usual springspindle I said lever S, disk W, mounted and fitted to turn in the outer end of frame U; its slide 9 provided with hook g, means for forcing said slide outward, and means-for connecting said slide g with slide-bar T, consisting of pivoted, spring-link it, its connection with slide-bar T, pivoted spring-levers 5 j, 70 and Z, and means for holding said-leverl while the device is traveling around inside of the fabric in contact therewith, during the proper knitting thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination of slide-bar T, fitted in frame U, and having means for forcing it outward; pivoted springlink it, engaging with said slide-bar and with pivoted spring-lever j; said spring-lever y', engaging with pivoted spring-lever is; said spring-lever is, engaging with pivoted springlever l; said lever Z; means for holding it nominally locked from lateral motion; slide 9, fitted in disk W, provided with hook or projection g, and with means for forcing it outward; and said disk W, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a knitting-machine, a shaft D, having thereon a circular frame arranged inside of the completed fabric, a vertical spindle extending downward from said shaft D, a sleeve fitted to slide upon said spindle and carrying said circular frame, and a stop-collar on the lower end thereof, substantially as described.

ALFRED BLANGHARD. FRANK H. GATES. Witnesses:

J our: H. SCHOOMAKER, LOUIS J. ST. ONGE. 

